Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-28
A Big Engineering Feat.
MOVING A GREAT RAILROAD BRIDGE IN EIEyEs

MINUTES.
The Philadelphia Times June % SAYS: Two thou
sand people saw wonderful achievement OF enc1-
neering skill at Holmesburg Junction, on the New
York division OF the Pennsylvania Railroad yester-
day. Thirty 1.-TWO men moved distance OF 30 feet the
iron bridge, weighing 100 TONS that spans the
Pennypack and they accomplished the great task
In the remarkable time OF eleven and one-half
minutes. The engineers OF the road had been long
making preparations for the work or yester-
day. Some time ago the company decided To build
fourarched stone bridge In the place OF the iron
structure over the big creek. Tie iron bridge Ind
TO be moved westward % feet that IL might be
used until the stone bridge Is built ana ready for
service. The removal OF the bridge had 20 be
mag1c-like and between the running OF fast trains
Every man was at his post and the great throng
OF people was watching with eager Interest, when
the whistle OF the fast line" was heard and the
train Numbered over the bridge seven minutes
late. As IL dashed away superintendent Ford
gave the word 10 his army or laborers and IL Was
a scene OF transitory animation as they tore up
rails and cut away the fastenings Of the bridge
The bridge had no sooner been released than
Master Mechanic Mershon gave the signal and the
thirty-two men began 10 wind the ''crabs."
DONE WITHOUT HITCH
As the bridge began to slowly move men went in
front or IL, pouring oil over the tallow creased
rails Superintendent Crawford and the other
officers held watches In their hands as the big
iron structure moved calmly toward the end or
the trestiing. AT one time the eastern end began
TO lag, but IL was only for few moments and
the bridge slid the rails foot by foot To
It's resting place WITHOUT "A fnlSlap, ana In the
brief time OF eleven and one-half minutes, while
mighty roar went up from the people. With
lightning like rapidity the toers both sides OF
the creek tore up and laid down frogs, switches,
SleeperS, and moved the rails To their led.
They soon had the rails connected with the two
tracks on the bridge half hour after the bridge
had been cut loose a heavy construction train was
run over the structure, and at l2:l9 the Phiadel-
phta express dashed across The work was q
success, and this morning Contractor McFadden's
men Will begin TO tear down the old stone pier and
abutments, and before two months the new stone
bridge Will be In service.
CHARGED WITH HOLDING BACK MAu.-Ex- Post
master X. Carson, OF New Brunswick. y. j.,
having tempered with his mail by intentionally
barring him from answering communications from
the Post-Ofice Department relative 10 his accounts
and bringing him into disrepute with the depart
ment officials, besides depriyfng him OF an amount
due him from the department. Postmaster Price
Is out OF town. His suborinates say that Mr. Car.
sons letters were overlooked and that there was
nothing Intentional In IL. Mr.. Carson says his
letters we're placed In his possession the day after
the limit allowed by the Post-ofce Department had
expired for answering. The department sent a
letter TO Mr.. Carson early In May asking him for
a transcript OF his special delivery accounts dur
ing the last quarter or his incumbency. The let
ter not being received, no transcript was sent.
Early In June another letter OF the same purport
came, giving him until June "a TO have the tran
script at Washington, or else suffer the loss OF q
balance possibly due him. On June % Mr.. Gag.
son received the letters.